Watercraft

ABSTRACT

A watercraft is provided having at least one floating body which is designed to be elastically flexible, at least in part, and to carry at least one person above a waterline, and is, in particular, inflatable and/or made from a foam material at least in part. The watercraft includes a drive device which comprises at least one first drive unit designed to generate a first water flow below the waterline. The first drive unit is designed in such a way that the alignment of the first water flow relative to the floating body can be changed. The drive device comprises at least one second drive unit designed to generate a second water flow below the waterline, and is designed, in particular, in such a way that the alignment of the second water flow relative to the floating body can be changed.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/EP2021/075347, filed Sep. 15, 2021, which itself claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2020 124041.4, filed Sep. 15, 2020, the entireties of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a watercraft having at least one floating body, the floating body being elastically flexible, at least in part, and designed to carry at least one person above a waterline. In particular, the floating body is inflatable and/or made from a foam material, at least in part. The watercraft moreover comprises a drive device for moving the watercraft. The drive device comprises at least one first drive unit. The first drive unit is designed to generate a first water flow below the waterline. The drive unit is designed in such a way that the alignment of the first water flow relative to the floating body can be changed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a watercraft is known from DE 8 056 494 B1. The watercraft disclosed therein serves for movement on bathing waters. The disclosed watercraft is disadvantageous in that it has limited maneuverability, in particular in terms of its orientation relative to the environment, which means that it is only suitable for a very limited scope of use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft, which is particularly versatile.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the drive device comprises at least one second drive unit, which is designed to generate a second water flow below the water line. The second drive unit is designed, in particular, in such a way that the alignment of the second water flow relative to the floating body can be changed. The drive units are preferably designed in such a way that the first and the second water flow do not flow parallel to one another, at least in one configuration of the drive units relative to one another.

As a result of the design, according to the invention, of the water vehicle, the watercraft is able to execute more complex movements on a water surface. At least a partial rotation about a vertical axis intersecting the watercraft can preferably be executed without the need for a partial translatory movement, and/or a movement in different directions can be executed without the watercraft having to be aligned in these directions. This applies, in particular, to a preferred form of the floating body, in which its underside does not define a main movement direction and is designed to be flat, in particular at least in the central region.

The watercraft is designed, in particular, for use in flat bodies of waters, such as lakes and stretches of sea which are close to the beach. The watercraft serves, in particular, for recreation and amusement purposes. The floating body is, in particular, elastically flexible on the upper side and/or laterally, at least in part. This means that the corresponding part of the floating body substantially assumes its original form again after a deformation which is caused, for instance, by a person carried by the floating body. In particular, the floating body is inflatable and is inflated during operation, at least in part, wherein at least an outer, circumferential part of the floating body is preferably inflatable in a manner similar to a dinghy. Alternatively, a part of the floating body which extends over the entire flat extent thereof is preferably inflatable. Alternatively or additionally to the inflatable parts, the floating body is formed from a foam material, at least in part. The elastically flexible design reduces the injury risk for the user of the watercraft.

The floating body is dimensioned and designed in such a way that it may carry at least one person on a body of water, in particular in the inflated state. A base of the floating body, for the person to stand on, may be arranged below the waterline here. In particular, as seen in a side view, water does not penetrate into the floating body or come into contact with an upwardly facing surface of the floating body during operation with the at least one person, at least in a normal position (described below). In a side view of the watercraft in a body of water, the waterline describes the height of the water surface relative to the floating body or the height of the water surface against the floating body and is representative of the level of the surface of the body of water relative to the watercraft.

The drive device serves for the traction of the watercraft on the body of water. During operation, the drive units are located, in particular, below the floating body and serve for the propulsion of the watercraft, for which they are each designed to displace water or to generate a water flow below the water surface. The first drive unit, in particular both drive units, are designed in such a way that the direction of the water flow relative to the floating body can be changed, whereby the movement direction and the orientation of the watercraft relative to the environment can also be changed.

The drive units preferably each have at least one drive rotor, which is designed, in particular, as a propeller or impeller. The drive rotor is preferably designed in the manner of a ship propeller. The drive units preferably each form a flow channel, which surround the drive rotor or adjoin the drive rotor. The water flows flow through the flow channels here. The water flows are generated by the drive rotors and can be aligned particularly reliably through the flow channels. Alternatively or additionally to the flow channel, the drive units comprise at least one pivotably arranged rudder, in particular at an outlet of the flow channel. Alternatively or additionally to the rudder, at least one of the drive units is in turn designed for thrust vector control, for which the drive unit preferably has a movable housing portion which also forms the flow channel.

The flow channels of the drive units each have, in particular, at least one, in particular precisely one, inlet opening and at least one, in particular precisely one, outlet opening and are therefore designed to be spatially independent of one another. The drive units can thus be arranged at a desired spacing from one another and to promote the best possible movement variability. In particular, the drive units are designed to be identical so as to be able to ensure maximum reliability with both drive units. Alternatively, the flow channels of the drive units adjoin one another and are, in particular, part of a branched total flow channel, which has, in particular, only one inlet opening or only one outlet opening and/or only one drive rotor in order to enable more efficient generation of a water flow.

The watercraft preferably comprises an actuating unit, which is designed to change the alignment of at least the first drive unit relative to the floating body. The watercraft preferably comprises an actuating unit for each drive unit. The actuating unit comprises, in particular, at least one actuator and/or at least one pivot or swivel bearing and/or linear bearing. In this embodiment, the alignment of the water flow or water flows can be altered in that the entire drive unit or all of the drive units or at least a majority thereof are displaceable relative to the floating body. In particular, the alignment of a longitudinal axis of the flow channel relative to the floating body here can be altered by the actuating unit. The water flow can thus be aligned in a particularly precise manner.

The actuating unit is preferably designed in such a way that the alignment of at least the first drive unit can be changed via a rotation or a pivoting movement about an at least substantially vertical first yaw axis. In particular, all actuating units are designed in this way. The yaw axis is, in particular, orthogonal and stationary with respect to at least part of a base of the floating body. The first yaw axis and a second yaw axis of the second drive unit are aligned, in particular, parallel to one another. The yaw axis is substantially vertically aligned in such a way that it generally fluctuates slightly about a vertical axis during operation as a result of a rocking motion of the floating body. In the normal position of the floating body, the first yaw axis is, in particular, vertical. As a result of the above-described mobility of the drive unit(s), the watercraft can move in a variety of ways.

Alternatively or additionally, the actuating unit is preferably designed in such a way that the alignment of at least the first drive unit can be changed via a rotation or a pivoting movement about a first pitch axis, which is angled with respect to the vertical axis. The first pitch axis is, in particular, at a right angle to the first yaw axis. In particular, all drive units are rotatable or pivotable about a respective pitch axis. In particular, to this end, the actuating unit comprises at least one second actuator and/or at least one second bearing. As a result of the mobility, via which the water flow can be aligned, in particular, both horizontally and also at an angle to a horizontal, particularly complex movements of the watercraft can also be executed. In particular, the floating body can thus rise or fall relative to the waterline, at least temporarily.

Alternatively or additionally, the actuating unit is preferably designed in such a way that at least the first drive unit is arranged to be displaceable relative to the floating body. In particular, the drive unit or drive units is/are displaceable in a thrust direction which is parallel to their respective yaw axis. To this end, the at least one actuating unit preferably as at least two, in particular at least three, actuators and/or bearings. As a result of this preferred design, the spacing of at least one drive unit from an underside of the floating body can be varied and the possible applications of the watercraft are thus expanded in such a way that it can be reliably used both in particularly flat bodies of water and also with higher waves, with which at least portions of the floating body regularly rise out of the water.

The watercraft preferably comprises at least three, in particular preferably at least four, drive units. The yaw axes of the plurality of drive units of the watercraft are, in particular, each spaced from a longitudinal center plane. The yaw axes are preferably arranged to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center plane. The longitudinal center plane is a vertical plane which extends in the main direction of extent of the floating body, in particular parallel to an edge portion of the floating body, and in particular centrally through the floating body. The floating body here, as seen in plan view, is preferably at least substantially rectangular, wherein a drive unit is associated with each of its four corners.

At least the first drive unit is preferably arranged on the floating body in such a way that the first yaw axis, as seen in plan view, is spaced further away from a geometrical center point of the floating body than from an edge of the floating body. In particular, all drive units are arranged in this way. As a result of this arrangement of the drive unit near to an outer region of the floating body, the floating body is particularly easily maneuverable and, in particular, torques for rotating the floating body about its own, vertical axis can be applied particularly easily.

The first drive unit preferably comprises at least one electric motor connected to a battery. The electric motor preferably serves to drive the drive rotor. The battery is, in particular, part of the drive unit or is alternatively preferably arranged on or in the floating body. In particular, each of the drive units comprises such an electric motor, wherein the watercraft, in particular, has a battery for each electric motor or a central battery for supplying a plurality of electric motors or all electric motors. In an alternative configuration, the drive unit or the associated actuating unit has an electric motor for each specified movement option of the drive unit relative to the floating body and for the movement of the drive rotor. Electric motors are comparatively small and light and thus enable particularly high accelerations.

The watercraft preferably has a control device, which is connected via a cable or wirelessly to a plurality of drive units, in particular to all drive units. The control device is designed to control at least one operating parameter of the drive units. In particular, the control device is arranged within a recess of the floating body or above a base of the floating body. This facilitates the coordinated activation of the drive units to achieve a specific movement of the floating body. Alternatively to the above-described design of the control device, a separate control device or part of a central control device is associated with each drive unit.

The drive units or the alignments and/or flow rates of the water flows can be controlled individually by the control device. In particular, the operating parameters of the different drive units can be set independently of the further operating parameters of the same drive units and/or independently of the similar operating parameters of the other drive units in each case. The flow rates depend, in particular, on the rotational speeds of the drive rotors. The flexibility of the watercraft is thus further increased.

The control device is preferably designed to control the drive units in such a way that the floating body thus pivots out of the normal position about a horizontal floating-body pitch axis or pivots or rotates out of the normal position about a vertical floating-body yaw axis. The normal position refers to the position of the floating body which is assumed by the floating body when the drive units are inactive, in particular when the rotor is not rotating, and the body of water is ideally calm and has a level water surface. In particular, the control device is designed to implement controls such that the floating body may pivot about two mutually angled floating-body pitch axes. The said axes here are stationary with respect to the floating body. In particular, the said axes are located in the longitudinal center plane. The different pitching or rolling movements of the floating body can thus be realized and the watercraft can be used in further applications.

The control device is preferably connected to at least one inclination sensor. The control device is particularly preferably designed to control the drive unit according to inclination data output by the inclination sensor. In particular, the control device is designed to control a movement speed of the watercraft according to the inclination data. Alternatively or additionally, the control device is preferably designed to transfer the floating body to the normal position according to the inclination data. In the second case, the control device serves, in particular, to stabilize the floating body. Therefore, in the event of a load on one side and a resultant tilting movement, for instance, the floating body may be returned to the normal position by aligning the at least one water flow or at least one drive unit in the opposite direction. It is thus enabled, in particular, that, despite the low weight of the floating body, a person is able to climb onto the watercraft from the water surrounding it.

In the first above-described case, the control device enables the watercraft to be operated solely by means of a weight transfer of the person on the floating body. Therefore, an acceleration in a horizontal direction, for instance, may be conditional upon a pitch angle of the floating body or of a component of the watercraft which is arranged thereon. The control device is preferably designed in such a way that a rolling movement here leads to steering for which the floating body rotates at least partially about a vertical pivot axis.

The control device is designed, in particular, to be coupled to a user interface. Alternatively or additionally, the control device comprises a user interface. The user interface preferably comprises at least one steering device, such as a steering wheel, and a speed setting device, such as a gas lever, to manually navigate the watercraft. Alternatively or additionally, the user interface comprises at least one indicator device, such as a display, a lamp or a pointer, via which the operator receives information about the operating state during operation.

In particular, the invention comprises a further watercraft, which has a user interface on an input device, which user interface is independent of the control device of the first above-described watercraft, wherein the input device is coupled to the control device wirelessly or via a cable. The first watercraft can therefore be controlled from the further watercraft.

The control device is preferably designed in such a way that the drive units are controlled automatically according to a control program which can be selected or defined by the user interface. The control program preferably comprises all time sequences of commands, according to which the alignments of the water flows or the drive units are altered. The execution of the control program can be at least triggered and/or terminated by means of the user interface. By triggering the execution of the control program, a person carried by the floating body preferably at least temporarily has no influence on the alignment of the drive units of the (first) watercraft.

In particular, the control program can be defined in such a way that the person finds it more difficult to stay on the floating body, as if riding a bull. To this end, the watercraft preferably has a carrying element for carrying the person, which is arranged on, or comprised by, the floating body. The carrying element is preferably movable relative to the floating body, preferably at least partially in a vertical direction, by means of at least one supporting element. The control device here is preferably also designed to control the supporting element. By executing the control program, a movement of the supporting element or the carrying element is preferably also realized. In particular, the carrying element is also pivotable or rotatable relative to the floating body.

The control device preferably has a switch device, which is designed in such a way that, as a result of its actuation, the operation of at least the first drive unit, in particular all drive units, is stopped and/or the drive unit or the drive units is/are switched to a pre-defined inactive position. In the inactive position, the drive rotor is arranged, in particular, in a stationary manner with respect to the floating body. The switch device comprises, in particular, a dead-man's switch. By means of a dead man's switch, the watercraft, or the drive units thereof, is/are then switched off if the person is no longer on the watercraft, or a certain part of the watercraft, and, in particular, falls into the water surrounding the watercraft. This is to minimize the risk of injury to persons in the water, which is presented by the drive units, in particular during the execution of a control program.

The switch device preferably comprises a flexible line element, one end of which can be arranged on a switch mount during operation, which switch mount is, in particular, stationary with respect to the floating body. The switch mount is designed, in particular, in the manner of a keyhole or a socket, into which a plug or key element arranged on the line element can be inserted for operation of the watercraft or its drive units. At the other end, the line element can be arranged on the person. To this end, in particular, a hip belt or an arm or ankle strap is arranged on the line element. If the person falls from the carrying element or the floating body, the plug or key element is removed from the watercraft and the inactive position is therefore triggered. For reliable triggering, the maximum length of the line element is 1.5 m, preferably 1 m, particularly preferably 0.5 m. It is thus ensured the watercraft cannot continue to operate after the person has fallen off. The line element here is preferably non-rigid and is designed, in particular, as a cable, rope, chain or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a watercraft according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the watercraft according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the watercraft according to the preceding figures.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the watercraft according to the preceding figures.

FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the watercraft according to the preceding figures.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the watercraft according to the preceding figures.

FIG. 7 shows a view from below of the watercraft according to the preceding figures.

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section of a drive unit of a further watercraft according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, explained below, of the exemplary embodiments according to the invention may also form the subject matter of the invention individually or in other combinations, as illustrated. If useful, functionally similarly acting parts are denoted by identical reference signs.

FIGS. 1 to 7 show a watercraft 2 having a rounded floating body 4, which is substantially rectangular in the plan view according to FIG. 6 . The floating body 4 is inflatable and therefore elastically flexible and is designed to carry at least one person 6 (illustrated schematically) above a waterline 8 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . The waterline 8 is the line along which the water surface contacts the floating body 4 of the watercraft 2 during the operation thereof.

The watercraft 2 comprises a drive device 10 for moving the watercraft 2. The drive device 10 comprises four drive units 21, 22, 23, 24 (c.f. FIG. 5 ), which are each designed to generate a water flow below the waterline 8. The drive units 21, 22, 23, 24 are designed in such a way that the alignment of each generated water flow relative to the floating body can be changed during operation.

The drive unit 21, 22, 23, 24 according to FIG. 8 has a drive rotor 12 designed as an impeller. An electric motor 20 is arranged thereon. The drive rotor 12 adjoins a flow channel 14 of the drive unit 21, 22, 23, 24. The illustrated flow channel 14 is, in particular, extended by the channel elements and/or guide elements which adjoin it longitudinally, thereby facilitating a targeted controllability of the water flow to be generated.

An actuating unit 31, 32, 33, 34 is associated with each drive unit 21, 22, 23, 24 and is designed to change the alignment of the drive units 21, 22, 23, 24 relative to the floating body 4. The actuating units 31, 32, 33, 34 are designed to rotate the drive units 21, 22, 23, 24 about respective vertical yaw axes 41, 42, 43, 44 and to pivot the drive unit 21, 22, 23 24 about respective pitch axes 51, 52, 53, 54, which are angled with respect to the yaw axes 41, 42, 43, 44. The alignment of the drive units 21, 22, 23, 24 can be controlled individually and independently by a control device (not illustrated).

The yaw axes 41, 42, 43, 44 are each arranged at the same spacing from a vertical longitudinal center plane intersecting the floating body 4 (c.f. FIG. 5 ) and mirror-symmetrically. The yaw axes 41, 42, 43, 44 are spaced further away from a center point 18 of the floating body 4 than from an edge 19 of the floating body 4. A carrying element 36 for accommodating the person 6 is arranged above the floating body 4.

The control device is designed in such a way that the drive units 21, 22, 23 24 may be activated thereby to pivot the floating body 4 about two different floating-body pitch axes 28, 29 (c.f. FIG. 1 ), which are arranged at a right angle to one another. They can also be activated to rotate the floating body 4 about a floating-body yaw axis 30. 

1. A watercraft comprising: at least one floating body which is elastically flexible, at least in part, said at least one floating body being adapted to carry at least one person above a waterline, a drive device for moving the watercraft, wherein said drive device comprises at least one first drive unit which generates a first water flow below the waterline, wherein the first drive unit allows alignment the first water flow to be changed relative to the floating body, wherein the drive device further includes at least one second drive unit which generates a second water flow below the waterline.
 2. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive units each have at least one drive rotor which is an impeller or propeller, and/or each form a flow channel.
 3. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, further including at least one actuating unit which changes the alignment of at least the first drive unit relative to the floating body.
 4. The watercraft as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one actuating unit allows the alignment of at least the first drive unit to be changed via a rotation or a pivoting movement about an at least substantially vertical first yaw axis.
 5. The watercraft as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one actuating unit allows the alignment of at least the first drive unit to be changed via a rotation or a pivoting movement about a first pitch axis, which is angled with respect to the vertical axis.
 6. The watercraft as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one actuating unit allows at least the first drive unit to be displaceable relative to the floating body.
 7. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, further including at least three drive units.
 8. The watercraft as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least the first drive unit is arranged on the floating body such that, as seen in plan view, the first yaw axis is arranged further away from a geometrical center point of the floating body than from an edge of the floating body.
 9. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the first drive unit has at least one electric motor connected to an battery.
 10. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, further including a control device connected via a cable or wirelessly to a plurality of drive units, said control device controlling at least one operating parameter of the drive units.
 11. The watercraft as claimed in claim 10, wherein the drive units or the alignments and/or flow rates of the water flows can be controlled individually by the control device.
 12. The watercraft as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control device controls the drive units in such a way that the floating body pivots out of a normal position about a horizontal floating-body pitch axis or pivots or rotates out of a normal position about a vertical floating-body yaw axis.
 13. The watercraft as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control device is connected to at least one inclination sensor and is controls the drive units according to inclination data output by the inclination sensor.
 14. The watercraft as claimed in claim 13, wherein the control device controls a movement speed of the watercraft according to inclination data and/or to transfer the floating body to the normal position according to the inclination data.
 15. The watercraft as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control device is coupled to a user interface or comprises a user interface.
 16. The watercraft as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control device controls the drive units automatically according to a control program which can be selected or defined by the user interface.
 17. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, further including a carrying element for carrying the person, which is arranged on, or comprised by, the floating body and is movable relative to the floating body by at least one supporting element.
 18. The watercraft as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control device has a switch device that, upon actuation, causes the operation of at least the first drive unit to stop and/or the at least the first drive unit is switched to a pre-defined inactive position.
 19. The watercraft as claimed in claim 18, wherein the switch device comprises a flexible line element with a maximum length of 1.5 m, one end of which can be arranged on a switch mount to enable its operation.
 20. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one floating body is inflatable and/or made from a foam material, at least in part.
 21. The watercraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one second drive unit allows alignment the second water flow to be changed relative to the floating body.
 22. The watercraft as claimed in claim 7, wherein the yaw axes are each arranged at a spacing from a vertical longitudinal center plane intersecting the floating body, and/or mirror-symmetrically with respect to said longitudinal center plane.
 23. The watercraft as claimed in claim 10, wherein said control device is arranged within a recess of the floating body or above a base of the floating body.
 24. The watercraft as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control device is comprises at least one steering device and a speed preset device to manually navigate the watercraft and/or a display device. 